Circusboy
Kinofest 2026

Santino is a circus kid. He travels across the country in a trailer with his family and the animals—here today, there tomorrow. For him, home isn’t a specific place, but rather his parents Angie and Gitano, his brother Giordano, countless uncles and aunts, cousins, and especially his great-grandfather Ehe, one of Germany’s last great circus directors. Ehe tells Santino wild stories from his long life: about the magnificent elephant bull Sahib, his own first steps as a clown, and the sense of freedom that makes all the hardships worthwhile. On Santino’s eleventh birthday, Ehe asks him what he’d like to perform in the ring one day—after all, he, too, must contribute something to their community. But how does one figure that out? “Zirkuskind” tells the story of the lives of the last nomads in Germany—growing up in an extended family, with the animals, and living a life without a safety net. A documentary road movie, enhanced with animations, about the power of belonging and community.
 

© Flare Film